Coronavirus Disease 2019 Messenger RNA Vaccine Immunogenicity in Immunosuppressed Individuals

J Infect Dis. 2022 Apr 1;225(7):1124-1128. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab569.

Abstract

Individuals on immunosuppressive (IS) therapy have increased mortality from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and delayed viral clearance may lead to new viral variants. IS therapy reduces antibody responses following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination; however, a comprehensive assessment of vaccine immunogenicity is lacking. Here we show that IS therapy reduced neutralizing, binding, and nonneutralizing antibody functions in addition to CD4 and CD8 T-cell interferon-γ responses following COVID-19 mRNA vaccination compared to immunocompetent individuals. Moreover, IS therapy reduced cross-reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 variants. These data suggest that the standard COVID-19 mRNA vaccine regimens will likely not provide optimal protection in immunocompromised individuals.

Keywords: 19 vaccine; 2; COVID; CoV; SARS; T cells; immunocompromised; vaccine immunogenicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Immunogenicity, Vaccine
  • RNA, Messenger
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • mRNA Vaccines

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Vaccines, Synthetic
  • mRNA Vaccines

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants